The Villages at Clarence Crossing, a community east of Ottawa being built by eQ Homes, is to be anchored around a recreational hub the homebuilder hopes will foster a sense of social cohesion often missing in such neighbourhoods.

To be sited in Clarence-Rockland, a few kilometres beyond the Ottawa city limits along the Ottawa River, The Villages is designed as nine distinct neighbourhoods. Each of the "villages" is to have its own architectural flavour and mix of housing.

The project is expected to total approximately 2,400 homes on 320 acres.

Tethering The Villages will be a 15,000-square-foot lodge, described as a clubhouse and “a resort at home” by eQ’s vice-president of strategic growth Tobin Kardish. The aim, he said in an interview with RENX Homes, is to stoke a sense of community through a common ground for residents to meet and engage in a variety of shared activities and sports.

“It brings life on its own. It is really important, that’s why we’re putting so much emphasis on this,” Kardish said.

A homebuilder that has served the Ottawa area for approximately 15 years, eQ is owned by Ottawa developer Regional Group. eQ’s main builds are single-family homes, townhomes and multi-generational offerings, Kardish said.

The first release of housing

The origin of The Villages dates back to Regional acquiring approximately 400 acres on the south shore of the Ottawa River. Regional has already developed Clarence Crossing on the west side of Clarence Creek, which winds through the property.

Last September, Regional and its partners completed the water and sewage infrastructure needed to bring The Villages to construction.

Regional was attracted to the beauty of the area’s forests and trails, Kardish said. “It really spoke to what we’re trying to do in and outside these communities, which is to create these enhanced lifestyles for people to have the ability to enjoy nature.”

The community is about 20 kms east of the Ottawa suburb of Orleans, and about 40 kms from the heart of the city. Home prices are expected to be lower than in Ottawa as a result, offering more accessibility to first-time buyers and young families.

The first release of units at The Villages, named Creekside Village, is expected to number approximately 200 homes. The release is to consist of bungalow singles, two-storey single-family homes, townhomes and multi-generational housing (homes with a ground-level in-law suite or basement suite).

Floor plans are to range from 1,200 to 4,000 square feet, with bedrooms numbering from two to eight. Townhome prices are expected to start from $400,000. The bungalow singles, single-family homes and multi-generational housing types are planned to start from approximately $600,000.

A “centre for everybody to use”

Core to eQ and Regional’s plan for The Villages is the lodge. Residents are expected to enjoy a variety of indoor and outdoor shared amenities. Kardish said these include a gym, fitness centre, sauna, plunge pool, multi-purpose rooms, lounge areas, an outdoor pool, seasonal outdoor space, and tennis and pickleball courts.

The concept of such a community hub is not new, Kardish said, noting they are found in Alberta and Florida, among other places. A key aim is “creating this centre for everybody to use,” he said, enabling a “shift away from the traditional suburban sprawl” which often leads to neighbours being strangers to each other.

Additionally, eQ plans to have a trail network along the local creek.

Construction on the lodge is scheduled to start in Q1 2027, and be finished in early 2028.

Future phases of The Villages, eQ’s other projects

The range of potential buyers for The Villages is “all over the map,” Kardish said, reflecting the range of Creekside Village's housing styles and price points. They include first-time homebuyers to both move-up buyers and downsizers.

Kardish gave two examples: a townhome owner in nearby Orleans who wants a bigger dwelling and can get more buying power in Clarence-Rockland; and the owner of a two-storey home who wants to downsize. The active lifestyle promoted by The Villages has also been a major attraction, Kardish said.

Construction on Creekside Village is planned to start in Q1 2027, with homes ready for move-in by the end of 2027. Presales are to start April 25.

eQ and Regional anticipate The Villages to be built-out over at least two decades, Kardish said, depending on market demand.

Other than The Villages, eQ has the Mill Run and Panorama projects in its pipeline. Mill Run in Almonte is an extension of an existing community in the town west of Ottawa, Kardish said. Panorama is a community to be constructed in Embrun, which is to the east of both Ottawa and Clarence.

The projects are expected to enter the market later this year with two-storey homes, bungalows and townhomes available in both. Mill Run is expected to also have bungalow townhomes on offer due to strong demand for that type of housing.